Cost of living comparison
Thimphu is 2.8% cheaper than Kigali.
- Restaurants
-
pay 40.1% less in Thimphu
- Groceries
-
pay 4.1% less in Thimphu
- Transportation
-
pay 17.8% less in Thimphu
- Housing
-
pay 42.6% less in Thimphu
- Childcare
-
pay 14.1% less in Thimphu
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.1 times more in Thimphu
- Clothing
-
pay 16.1% less in Thimphu
Expenses including housing, restaurants, transportation, clothing, childcare, and groceries are lower in Thimphu. Notably, entertainment and sports is significantly more expensive in Thimphu.
If you lived in Thimphu instead of Kigali, you would:
pay 40.1% less for restaurants
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.26
RWF4,694
|
$2.95
BTN253.16
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.16
RWF8,866
|
$2.95
BTN253.16
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.89
RWF1,286
|
$0.55
BTN47.59
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.47
RWF678
|
$0.19
BTN16.03
|
|
pay 4.1% less for groceries
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.01
RWF1,451
|
$0.94
BTN81.01
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$2.26
RWF3,248
|
$1.68
BTN144.30
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$2.66
RWF3,821
|
$3.17
BTN272.16
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.67
RWF2,399
|
$2.20
BTN189.36
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.19
RWF3,154
|
$1.74
BTN149.28
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.38
RWF1,981
|
$1.07
BTN91.87
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.52
RWF750
|
$0.65
BTN56.27
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.86
RWF1,235
|
$0.82
BTN70.74
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.48
RWF695
|
$0.37
BTN31.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.22
RWF323
|
$0.23
BTN19.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.33
RWF468
|
$0.26
BTN22.05
|
|
pay 17.8% less for transportation
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.48
RWF6,443
|
$3.93
BTN337.29
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$24.66
RWF35,465
|
$3.97
BTN340.78
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,668.41
RWF29,727,745
|
$21,215.98
BTN1,822,757.32
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.33
RWF17,732
|
$15.09
BTN1,296.18
|
|
pay 42.6% less for housing
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.20
RWF37,681
|
$31.25
BTN2,684.44
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$489.52
RWF704,078
|
$124.45
BTN10,692.15
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$271.95
RWF391,155
|
$79.38
BTN6,820.07
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$30.04
RWF43,206
|
$16.69
BTN1,433.67
|
|
pay 14.1% less for childcare
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$149.39
RWF214,874
|
$246.05
BTN21,138.92
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,609.00
RWF13,820,794
|
$677.73
BTN58,226.97
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
RWF1,565
|
$6.43
BTN552.56
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.22
RWF3,187
|
$1.53
BTN131.64
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.36
RWF3,390
|
$3.83
BTN329.11
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$31.83
RWF45,780
|
$49.11
BTN4,219.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.63
RWF5,215
|
$3.54
BTN303.79
|
|
pay 16.1% less for clothing
|
Kigali
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$16.68
RWF23,991
|
$9.43
BTN810.11
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$21.76
RWF31,292
|
$11.79
BTN1,012.64
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$26.59
RWF38,246
|
$32.41
BTN2,784.77
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$31.43
RWF45,200
|
$32.41
BTN2,784.77
|
|
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